NEWS

Ah, the things we take for granted. Sunshine might be one of them. Running water might be another. At the Pole, sometimes you have to do without. So the sun is gone for months on end—ok, you adjust. But showers? How long can you last? The South Pole is basically a desert, and under normal conditions water rationing is standard fare around the station. However, recent troubles with a pump stuck in a rod well have caused further restrictions, and winterovers have had to make choices between a shower or some laundry. Hmm. Any other choices this past week? Looks like there was: remove snow or let it accumulate some more, dig into an Oktoberfest meal or photograph it, and face camera away from you or toward you.